By Amy Wolff Sorter
Chag Sameach! May your life shine as bright as the candles marching forward on the menorah.
It’s now open
The Fort Worth Museum of Science & History opened its exhibit, “Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America through Galveston Island,” with an inaugural reception Thursday, Dec. 15, honoring curator Dr. Suzanne Seriff. Seriff is an anthropologist and folklorist at the University of Texas in Austin.
Dr. Seriff is the “brainchild” behind this exhibit; she organized it when it first opened in Austin in 2009 and spent a day in Fort Worth leading docents through the show.
Attending the late-afternoon reception were Rabbi Ralph and Ann Mecklenburger, Adena Cytron-Walker and Hollace Weiner. Arnold Gachman, whose grandfather, Jake, immigrated through Galveston, was also present with his wife, Harriette.
The multi-media exhibit, which examines the arrival of Jewish refugees at the port of Galveston during the years before WWII, also deals with larger themes of immigration. It extends from the slave trade to 1924, when restrictive immigration laws passed Congress.
I’ve said it in earlier columns — this looks like a terrific exhibit. “Forgotten Gateway” is an ideal place to take school-age youngsters during winter break (not to mention the fact that adults can learn something from this exhibit as well). The exhibit is at the museum which is, in turn, on 1600 Gendy St.
There are still openings
Wanting something to do on “that other holiday?” The annual Chanukah Bowl will take place from 4-6 p.m. on Sun., Dec. 25 at Citiview Bowling, 6601 Oakmont Blvd. in Fort Worth. The event is hosted by Chabad of Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Dreidels will be included — so will latkes, a light dinner and chocolate gelt for the kids. Cost is $12 per person ($50 per family). For more information, call the Chabad at 817-263-7701 or log onto http://www.chabadfortworth.com/.
Women’s role in Chanukah
And yes, women have had other roles in Chanukah in addition to lighting candles and making latkes! Learn all about it at Chabad of Arlington’s Jewish Women Circle’s “Latkes and Lattes.”
This brunch will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 26 at 2136 Linblad Court in Arlington. Women are invited for coffee, to make beaded serving spoons and, of course, to schmooze. If you’re interested in participating in the Chanukah Grab Bag, bring a wrapped gift $5 or less. Suggested donation is $10 (sponsorships are available for $36) and RSVP is MANDATORY. Questions? Contact Rishi Gurevitch at rishi@arlingtonchabad.org.
Gearing up for film
Beth-El Congregation, with financial assistance from the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, will launch the 2012 Beth-El Jewish Film Festival with the “Human Resource Manager” starting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 7 at the synagogue at 4900 Briarhaven Rd. Other films will be “Jewish Soldiers in Blue and Gray” to be shown on Feb. 18 and “Camera Obscura” the feature presentation on March 10. The films are free with an optional dinner available prior to each film at a cost of $12 per person; reservations for the dinner ARE required and can be obtained by calling (817) 332-7141.
In other entertainment news …
Stage West Theater in Fort Worth is offering David Ives’ play “New Jerusalem: The interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation, Amsterdam, July 27, 1956.” Run dates are Jan. 5 through Jan. 29. Times are 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and matinee performance at 3 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call the box office at 817-784-9378 or log onto http://www.stagewest.org/season/new-jerusalem.
Mahjong cards available
The Fort Worth Hadassah is selling mahjong cards, with proceeds to benefit the organization. Standard size is $7; larger size is available for $8. Send your name, address and size, with a check made payable to Barbara Weinberg to her at 4600 Westlake Dr., Fort Worth, TX, 76132. Questions? Call Barbara at 817-346-0331. Deadline for orders is Jan. 16, 2012 — do NOT delay!
E-mail your news to me at awsorter@yahoo.com.